Mariko made pretty surprise balls! She mentions my sad excuse for directions from waaaay back before I had a camera. Here is some information from the Carol Duvall Show (they mention this wrapping technique being as big as a beach ball if you'd like, eek). Mariko has some good advice -- use sheets of paper inbetween layers of crepe ribbon, it'll help fill out bulk and shape. I had a commerical surprise ball that used squares of thin acetate. Also, be sure to wrap lots of crepe between adding each gift, my original ones didn't space the gifts out far enough and stuff just fell out uncontrollably.

how to prepare sugarplums via the morning news an amazing number of gingerbread house patterns (pdf), look for the elf house, via j-walk blog

These felt donuts made by Sew Dorky are charming and cuddly. We're rooting for Sew Dorky to have a web site soon, go web site go! (update: Sew Dorky the web site!) p.s. You can find them at the Bluebottle Art Gallery (along with lots of other great things), and there is a pretty pretty picture of more Sew Dorky donuts here at ten years of my life.

Last night we made Megnut's recipe for Brown Buttered Brussels Sprouts. Mmm. And she includes the recipe for clarified brown butter for those of us who don't really know what that is.

Some things we saw at the Pacific Science Center this weekend - sadly, they had already taken the Santa hats off of the huge bronze dinosaurs outside. A blue spider, blue! At the jelly bean tasting part of the candy exhibit.

Gummi shot glasses! at CB2 Gingerbread CPU! via Popgadget

Made curious by the most recent Amazon.com customer service number hoopla, I opened the Seattle yellow pages:

I really like this teeny tiny digital clock thingy. I don't like wearing watches so much and my mobile is always out of battery juice when I need to check the time. via Pixiechick. Useful? Vain? Mobile phone with a mirror. Dunk Mug with a space just for cookies.